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An English Basket-Hilted Backsword image 1
An English Basket-Hilted Backsword image 2
Lot 179

An English Basket-Hilted Backsword
Early 17th Century

30 April 2014, 11:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £2,500 inc. premium

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An English Basket-Hilted Backsword
Early 17th Century

With broad tapering blade double-edged towards the point and cut with three narrow fullers changing to two over nearly its entire length on each side, the central one on each side at the forte stamped 'Andrea Ferara', 'Irish' guard of rounded swelling bars joined at the top and involving an ovoidal saltire on each side, the knuckle-guard screwed to the large globular pommel with button finial, looped fore-guards, and later horn grip cut with a basketweave design (some pitting overall)
84 cm. blade

Footnotes

Provenance:
Sold in these Rooms, Antique Arms, Armour and Modern Sporting Guns ..., 1 December 2009, lot 400

See Claude Blair, 'The Early Basket-Hilt in Britain', in D.H. Caldwell (ed.), Scottish Weapons & Fortifications 1100-1800, 1981, pp. 153-252; and for three other similar examples see Bonhams, Leeds, Branton Court House Sale, Part II, 6 August 2002, lots 319-321

Additional information

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